Day 7: Grateful to be connected to Purpose, Passion and Meaning
365 Days of Wonderful – Day 7
I had to look at my watch to see what day it is! LOL I am SO SO Grateful that the time flies. I am grateful that I have a sense of purpose, passion, and meaning in my life. I am grateful to have deliberately crafted my life so that my days are filled with quality connections, laughter, tears, joy, beauty, and wonderful delicious nourishing conversations, food and activities. I am grateful for the sense of Joy and Love that I have helping others.
Ten years back, as I was deciding to change careers (yet again), and even though I had an advanced degree, I was faltering with my resolve and sense of direction. I did not know how to make sense of how all the pieces of my life’s puzzle fit together. I was disconnected from joy, I had just been asked to resign, and I had refused… I asked my boss to fire me. I was working at a job that made me crazy, there were hundreds of emails every day–too many to process. I had 35 employees, a receptionist that was embezzling funds and she was “besties” with my boss. I had employees that were showing up late, and calling in sick… The job was completely toxic. I cried every day, and I would not have left it willingly… so as I got fired–and I started doing some soul searching…
I started looking for the common thread of my life. In my 20’s I had been a Bank Teller, a House Cleaner, a Nanny, a Receptionist, in Technical Trainer in Telecommunications…
In my 30’s I had worked in Graphic Design, I was an Ad Production Manager at the UW Daily Newspaper. I worked in Membership Development at a Chamber of Commerce, and as a Marketing Manager for a Massage School.
In my 40’s I worked as the Community Education Manager at a Hospital. I was the I was Guest Services Manager at Oregon Historical Society, in Community Outreach for the Portland Police Bureau, and an Executive Admin for the Washington County Sheriff’s Office… I had taught art workshops and classes, facilitated Leadership retreats making mosaic murals. I had written and received grants for Teaching Tolerance, and Building for the Arts Campaign.
I had held great positions, and had great titles. I worked with great people, and done some really cool stuff. To me, it felt like I had gone from job to job, and now what… How did it all fit together? I felt like I had failed. I had not stayed on one course, nor at one job… and I was contemplating going back to school to become a Massage Therapist??? I was having a hard time wrapping my brain around how to frame up my life…if I had to… how could I summarize it? Was I crazy for wanting to change careers AGAIN? What was my life’s purpose?!!
And then the light bulb went off… I LOVE Helping People!!! In my 20’s I helped people with their homes and their families. In my 30’s I helped people with their business materials. I did go to massage school, and in my 40’s I became a Manual Therapist, helping people feel better in their bodies. And now I am in my 50’s and I have gone back to school AGAIN to become a Transformation Life Coach. And now I help people connect to the Purpose, Passion and Meaning in their lives.
I help people in mid-life crisis, major transition, and health crisis trade anxiety and restlessness for peace and calm. I help people reconnect to Joy. I am like the Fairy Godmother of Joy.
It makes sense to me now–the fabric of my life has always been about Helping People. It may have always been about connecting people to Joy. I have always brought fun and laughter, and gratitude to the table, in every work environment.
I am SO Grateful for the life that I have been graced to occupy. I am grateful to share this life journey alongside You. I am blessed and grateful to share my humanness with You. I am grateful for my connection to my community, my friends, my family, my tribe.
I am grateful that You show up, human, and messy, and real, and sharing your life alongside me. In your presence, in your reflection, in your struggles, and your resolve, I am comforted, and I am made stronger. Together we are united, as spiritual beings having a human experience. Thanks for playing.
Now I realize that change is the name of the game. We grow, break out of our shell, and grow some more. This struggle, to find ourselves, to find our Joy, well, that is the point. We may have it at times, or seasons of our lives, and then we forget. We numb and mask, and distract ourselves by being over busy, over eating, drinking, or taking care of others. I invite you to let this be your season to reconnect to Joy. Listen to the call of your heart, and the whispers of your soul… it is time to rediscover You.
I am SO Grateful to be on this side of the grass. Laughing, and Loving, and Being Authentic, Supporting and Encouraging, and Showing Up, Participating Fully, and being a Good Community Member. I am grateful for the opportunity to be the best human I can be. It is a hell of a ride.
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Thanks for joining me as I celebrate 365 Days of Wonderful – A Gratitude Practice for shifting the way that we think, and re-framing life with a slant toward the positive.
You can comment, share, engage, lurk… whatever participating looks like for you right now–is Wonderful. If you hear the call, I invite you to visit my website. I am launching a Free Coaching Opportunity: Discover Wonderful You – 10 Day Empowerment Intensive… IF you want to know more, I am Happy to Help! 🙂
Blessings. ___________________ Individual Inquiry: Think about the fabric of your life, find the common threads to identify your life’s work. I encourage you to journal about the qualities of jobs you’ve had or things you’ve done that you loved. What are the things that you do that bring you joy? What lights you up and in what situations do you feel most alive?